IIM Calcutta Innovation Park organised the Annual Incubatee Meet 2025 at IIM Calcutta from February 27 to March 01, 2025. The Meet brought together startups incubated under various IIMCIP programmes, creating a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, mentors and industry experts to exchange insights. The 3-day event featured a carefully curated agenda blending theoretical knowledge, practical strategies and interactive discussions, equipping startups with the tools to navigate their entrepreneurial journey confidently.

 

DAY 1 Highlights

The first day commenced with a warm welcome from Gaurav Kapoor, CBO, IIMCIP, who introduced the purpose and objectives of the Meet. An engaging ice-breaking session followed, where startups transformed into investors, placing bets on their favourite ventures based on a 20-second elevator pitch. This interactive activity not only fostered connections but also set the tone for meaningful discussions and collaborations.

Dr. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO, IIMCIP, then led a session on key success factors for investable startups, offering founders a deep dive into what investors seek when funding startups. This was followed by an insightful session on goal setting by Bibash Mondal, Startup Mentor, helping participants align their business aspirations with structured growth strategies. Post-lunch, Ananatika Singh from Pernod Ricard India Foundation delivered a thought-provoking talk on entrepreneurship as a tool for social impact, highlighting how startups can drive sustainable solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges while ensuring financial viability. The day concluded with a diagnostic session, where startups were grouped for an in-depth business assessment, equipping founders with valuable insights into their strengths, operational efficiencies, and scalability potential.

 

DAY 2 Highlights

The second day focused on discussions around establishing Product-Market Fit (PMF) and enhancing Customer Experience and Engagement (CXE). The day commenced with an in-depth session on PMF led by Sachin Oswal, who provided valuable strategies on aligning product offerings with market demand and sustaining market alignment. The focus then shifted to CXE, with IIMCIP mentors and experts Sanjoy Sen and Manimala Hazarika guiding participants on enhancing customer interactions, building long-term relationships and offering advanced insights into customer engagement strategies.

 

DAY 3 Highlights

The final day of the Incubatee Meet centred around branding and digital marketing. Prof. C.D. Mitra, IIMCIP Mentor & Advisor|Founder, PipalMajik, delivered an impactful session on branding for startups, emphasising the importance of creating a strong identity and emotional connection with customers beyond just logos and taglines. Key takeaways included brand positioning, storytelling, consistency and building a customer-centric approach. This was followed by a session on leveraging digital media for scaling up, where Manimala Hazarika highlighted the role of social media strategies, SEO, content marketing, performance marketing, influencer engagement and analytics in startup growth. Real-time case studies provided actionable insights for enhancing online presence.

 

The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, recognising outstanding startups from DST, MeitY and PRIF programmes for their innovation and contributions. This ceremony also facilitated networking and inspiration for budding entrepreneurs, marking the end of a successful and enriching three-day event.